Author Interview (and a Giveaway!): Heather Blanton

I am very pleased to have author Heather Blanton with me on the blog today! A Promise in Defiance, the third book in Heather’s popular Romance in the Rockies series releases June 22nd, and we’re chatting about that as well as westerns and movie scripts and superpowers.

Heather Blanton is the independent bestselling author of several Christian Westerns, including the Romance in the Rockies series, which has sold over 40,000 copies. Intrigued by the concept of three good sisters stranded in a lawless Colorado mining town, a few notable Hollywood producers have requested the script for her first book in that series, A Lady in Defiance. Heather’s writing is gritty and realistic. In fact, her books have been compared to AMC’s Hell on Wheels series, as well as the legendary Francine Rivers book, Redeeming Love.

A former journalist, Heather is an avid researcher and skillfully weaves truth in among the fictional story lines. She loves exploring the American West, especially ghost towns and museums. She has walked parts of the Oregon Trail, ridden horses through the Rockies, climbed to the top of Independence Rock, and even held an outlaw’s note in her hand.

She writes Westerns because she grew up on a steady diet of Bonanza, Gunsmoke, and John Wayne movies. Her most fond childhood memory is of sitting next to her father, munching on popcorn, and watching Lucas McCain unload that Winchester!

Christian Westerns is the genre that lets her write about strong pioneer women and men who struggle to find God and then live out their faith in real ways. Romance is always a strong element in her stories because it is such a beautiful gift from God, and a perfect reflection of how he loves His children: sacrificially and lavishly. Heather’s stories aren’t preachy or cheesy, but she hopes they are heart-warming, realistic, illuminating, and glorifying to God. Like good old fashioned Westerns, there is always justice, a moral message, American values, lots of high adventure, unexpected plot twists, and more than a touch of suspense.

“I believe Christian fiction should be messy and gritty, because the human condition is … and God loves us anyway.” —Heather Blanton

Welcome to RimSP, Heather! Let’s start you out with our “fast four”!

Heather: Oranges if they’re navel. Big as a softball and juicy! No seeds!

Carrie: No seeds is key.

Heather: Winter. You get to wear the best clothes and BOOTS in the winter.

Carrie: haha! Clothes ARE better in the winter.

Heather: Well, I breed long hair German Shepherds and have two rescue cats in the house. Because we can all get along.

Carrie: Zuzu says that is up for debate 😉

Zuzu’s skeptical face. Still cute.

Heather: Coffee.

Carrie: Why?

Heather: Is that a trick question. It’s COFFEE. Java. Joe. Elixir of the gods. Magic beans.

Carrie: Yuck. lol. But I have many many friends who would agree with you wholeheartedly, leaving me in a distinct minority!

Around here I like to say that reading is my superpower. If YOU had a superpower, what would it be?

Heather: Completely perfect aim. I hate missing when I shoot.

Carrie: Ha!! You could probably give me some pointers. I went to a shooting range with my brother once – I had the time of my life but shot like it was my first time (because it was). But I felt like a FBI agent and my brother was the one who broke a nail, not me. So, all in all, I think I won the day.

If you knew you were only going to be allowed FIVE books for the rest of your life, besides the Bible, which five would make the cut?

Heather: Gulp. Only 5?

The Mirror by Marlys Milheiser

Montana Sky by Nora Roberts

Crossfire Trail by Louis L’Amour

The Last Sin Eater by Francine Rivers

Anything by Edgar Allan Poe

Carrie: The Last Sin Eater is one of my very faves by Francine Rivers, and it’s not one that I hear people mention a lot. I’m due for a reread of that one sometime soon…

Since you write Christian historical westerns, I’d like to know – If you could live in any classic Western movie or TV show, which one would you choose and which character would you want to be?

Heather: It’s a toss up. I would either be the cattle baroness with the ranch adjacent to Ben Cartwright’s place. You know, that little spread called the Ponderosa. Or I’d be Ann Rodney in love with Rafe Covington—Tom Selleck—in Crossfire Trail. Either way I get a big ranch and a handsome man!

Carrie: My vote is for Tom Selleck. He’s aged very well. *swoon*

You have said, “I believe Christian fiction should be messy and gritty, because the human condition is … and God loves us anyway.” (I completely agree, by the way!) How has this belief affected your writing?

Heather: When I wrote my first book, I just wanted to tell a story that was inspired by my sister’s life. What amazed me was the way people responded! I’ve had widows write and tell me theywere One woman told me she cried when Naomi said to God, “I don’t like You very much right now.” She’d said those very words. Another woman left a review on Amazon and said the story reawakened her sleeping faith. Wow. Hence, I want to write stories that have an impact like a meteor. I want to show God at work in the muck and pain of our lives…because He is.

Carrie: Yes! Absolutely! He so is… and some of my favorite-favorite books are those that have impacted me like that.

Your newest book, A Promise in Defiance, releases June 22nd! In this third book in the Romance in the Rockies series, we follow up with some familiar characters and meet a new face or two as well. Of all the characters in Defiance so far, who has been your favorite to write?

Heather: Charles McIntyre, that sexy Southern boy. He is such a complex character. I love how he fought his attraction to Naomi, didn’t understand it, and then totally embraced what a better life he could have with her and Christ. He loves her deeply and unconditionally and that helps him understand his relationship with God. Now, walking out his faith in a town as mean as Defiance is challenging, especially in Book 3. He asks at one point how does he fight evil if not with evil? Of course, God has the answer.

Carrie: Sexy, Southern boy? I’m in! And that question – how do we fight evil if not with evil – is such a timely question for the world we live in today. I’m eager to see how God answers Charles 🙂

What do you most want readers to take away from A Promise in Defiance?

Heather: I’ve seen it over and over: new Believers come to Christ, and then fall away when life gets hard or doesn’t go their way, especially if it’s because of past choices. Somehow they think God not only wipes away their sins, but the consequences too, and they’re gonna spend the rest of their lives tip toing through the tulips. Well, Jesus promised us that in this life we would have trouble. So what He really does is give us the strength to stand when everything around us is falling apart—especially if our own choices are the cause of that destruction. We can stand the storms because we know He has a purpose and a plan for us.

Carrie: Amen. Heather, it’s been so nice to “meet you”. Thanks for stopping by to chat!

Before we say goodbye for today, tell us what‘s coming up next for you. I’ve seen a rumor floating around about a movie script??

Heather: I wrote a script for my first book, A Lady in Defiance and it has been perused by some producers in Hollywood like Brian Bird and Mark Headly. Fortunately, the script has garnered some serious interest so now I am trying to decide if I want to accept an offer to be represented and let the agent shop it around, or if I want to work with a professional screen writer and we’ll sell it ourselves. I’m just not sure at the moment. God’s got his hand on this book. He has from the beginning so I think you’ll be seeing it on the screen one day!

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92 Responses to “Author Interview (and a Giveaway!): Heather Blanton”

Debbie Clatterbuck

I haven’t watched western shows in years, so I don’t know which I’d like to live in. But I might choose the Ponderosa since it’s the only one I remember, especially Little Joe. LOL Thanks for the giveaway and good luck everyone.

Carrie

I’m not sure I would want to live in any of them because I love my creature comforts so much. I did like the Christy and Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman series though. Thanks for the interview and the giveaway!

Carrie

Pam Lunsford

I have always loved books about the west, wagon trains. Any Christian book about the west. If I could go back in time I would want to live back in those days. I would ride a wagon train to get to the west.

Carrie

Becky Smith

I have to agree with Heather that I would want to be in Crossfire Trail with Tom Selleck. Bonanza was always fun to watch, as was Five Mile Creek that takes place in the Australian Outback. Although I’m not sure I could stomach stagecoaches!! Really great interview!

Cyndi

I’ve never heard of Crossfire Trail… I’ll have to check it out! I’d have to say either Bonanza or Dr. Quinn. If I thought about it longer I might be able to come up with another one… maybe. Great interview with a “new-to-me” author! I’ll be looking her up! Thanks for the giveaway!

Carrie

Winnie Thomas

I don’t think I’d like to live in a western movie or tv show. I’m with Carrie–I like my modern conveniences too much. I’m pretty sure my husband would love it, though. He loves western shows, horses, cowboy things. He grew up on a farm, and he’s ridden horses all his life.

Carrie

Winnie Thomas

Oh, I really need to hear this! I rode a few times when I was younger, but I’ve never been too crazy about it. I definitely don’t go riding with my husband–I let him have some man time with his friends! 😀

Carrie

Winnie, maybe you’d like When Calls the Heart then. Our heroine comes from a wealthy family in the early 1900’s and returns home periodically to be doted upon and spoiled by her rich daddy–but she always returns to her Canadian Mounty!

Marilyn

Big Valley because the Barkleys have a beautiful home. Living with Victoria Barkley[Barbara Stanwyck] would be a joy,since she is one of my favorite actresses.
I enjoy Gunsmoke,but it is a little too much the old wild west for me.
Marilyn

Rebecca Maney

I am not going to apologize for saying, yet again . . . . . . . how much I loved these books. Heather has a lovely way of writing deep spiritual truths into life’s messy spots. Her characters are wonderful!

FYI, I share Heather’s love of “The Last Sin Eater”, have read it several times and our book club read and watched the movie together last year. Vintage western movies are definitely the best! I am a huge fan of John Wayne!

Carrie

Rebecca, you should watch Angel and the Badman. A great Western that shows a tender side to the Duke. And thank you for your kind words. I will always try to write the beautiful truth of how God is willing to wade into the deepest muck to save us. 🙂

Carrie

Amanda J.

I’ve got to read Heather’s work based on her love of westerns…it’s as if she’s my long lost sister because Dad was always watching The Lone Ranger or Bonanza or Gunsmoke or some Western, along with The Andy Griffith Show. So, I could totally live in the Gunsmoke era as long as Matt Dillon guarded me as faithfully as he did Miss Kitty. But you know, Dr. Quinn did alright too with that hunky Sully, so you’re right- it’s all about the hero. So glad you’ve spotlighted a new-to-me author, Carrie! 🙂

Carrie

Amanda, awesome observations. I am to this day a big fan of Bonanza. I have an Indian blanket hanging over my railing just like in the Ponderosa. None of those Cartwright men would have been bad choices — they each had such unique characteristics … but Sully would have been quite tolerable. LOL

Carrie

Connie Saunders

My Dad loved westerns so they were a big part of our lives when I was growing up. He loved Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Wagon Train….He just loved westerns! To answer your question: I would choose The Big Valley because the Barkley’s home was beautiful and there were some creature comforts that being on a Wagon Train just didn’t offer! 🙂
Connie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

Rachael Merritt

I love westerns. Bonanza was my favorite growing up, although Michael Landon use to joke about the show that one could barely walk the ranch because of all the dead women. Until I heard that I’d never stopped to think they always killed the girls and girlfriends off the show. 🙂 When Calls the Heart, Dr. Quinn, and Big Valley are all ones I enjoy. I love Barbara Stanwyck!

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